Worldwide demand for mobility is growing steadily as a result of demographic changes, urbanisation and economic development. In non OECD countries, the demand for all modes of passenger transport combined could triple by 2050 in comparison with 2010 [1].

In parallel, public authorities everywhere are concerned about the environmental impacts of transport: traffic jams, air pollution, noise, climate change and depletion of energy resources. Indeed, transport today represents 28% of final energy consumption worldwide and 23% of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Between 1990 and 2011, energy consumption and CO2 emissions from transport have increased by more than 50% following, in particular, the development of road transport [2]. Emissions are still growing. In Europe road transport emissions were up again in 2014 after a 6th year of continuous decrease [3].

Our convictions

Our sustainable development approach is driven by strong convictions:

To reach the +2°C target set by Paris Agreement, curbing worldwide emissions from transport will be key.

Efficient rail systems and solutions should become the backbone of global sustainable transport systems

Rail’s global benefits in terms of energy efficiency, safety and urban space optimization, make it a true sustainable alternative to road with the lowest contribution to local air pollution

Our participation in the international debate on Climate Change

Alstom is following closely the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiation process and participated in the 21st and 22nd Conferences of the Parties in Paris, France (COP21) and in Marrakech, Morocco (COP22).

Alstom welcomed the Paris Agreement as a major step forward in the international fight against climate change. The COP21 process has allowed a high-ambition vision to emerge with the objective of keeping global warming well below +2°C and reaching a balance between emission sources and sinks before end of the century.

As for transport, in recent years the sector has gained an attention that it had never had in the past. Transport is now recognized as a sector which contributes significantly to worldwide emissions and which offers a great potential to curb them.

Alstom also sees positively the high-level dialogue process that was established in Paris and should be strengthened in the future. At COP22 in Marrakech, the transport sector delivered an actionable vision of transport transformation to address climate change. This vision includes a decarbonisation pathway to a net-zero emission transport sector by 2060; a set of 20 disruptive public policies (Quick Wins) to be passed without delay (and at the latest by 2020); scaled up action of 15 existing initiatives plus some new initiatives under the Global Climate Action Agenda.

Alstom is a member of the Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Partnership (SLoCaT). The Partnership’s primary goal is to mobilize global support to promote sustainable, low carbon transport and thereby reduce the growth of GHG emissions generated by land transport and maximize the contribution of transport to poverty eradication and sustainable development.